The Washington critic., 1887-01-27
For TnE WAsuIsGToS CRirfc.
W0MAN'S SOCIAL PROGRESS.
Reflections and Doubts Suggested by !
Remark of My Grandmother.


we generally connect he idea with i'm.
provement, but could not help think.
ing short time since while listening
TO some remarks of my grandmother's
concerning her life as a society girl OF
that early period, what very wide
gulf existed between her grandchild's
. and her own recognized mode. \
feeling crept over me for the first time
that we had progressed, but, perhaps,
had not improved, for, as she related
in matter of.coursc tone. the innocent,
gentle ways in which the girls of her
time amused themselves, ] mentally
contrastcd their amusements with ours,
and positively felt years older than
my own grandmother at all events in
experience.
Living the hurried, brilliant life of
a society gill of this period, had
never before seriously contemplated
the difference; the subject thus possess.
ing all the charm of novelty for me
questioned my relative more closely.
Some of her answers almost made
me smile, as l thought how tame" In
our par!ance, such things would sound
TO the average girl of my period. |
made up my mind that this generation
had accomplished one thing at all
events, they had left no stone unturned
whereby they could establish the fact
that this country was the cradle of
Liberty and lost no opportunity of
illustrating that they were each and
every one lineal descendants from that
cradle.
1T seemed like description of life
In another world, when, by the voice of
my grandmother was conjured up q
vision of girls of other days; girls who
seemed unavoidedly connected with
white muslin; whose grdRde toilette con-
sisted of colored silk slips under muslin;
who sat in silence while their elders con-
versCd; who never went out or about
unless accompanied by members of
their families; whose parties and gath.
crings we're early In every way; who
never received gentlemen alone, and to
whom the idea of male escort, not
member of the family, to any place of
amusement was simply unhcard of.
When she had finished, the contrast
between us seemed sharp and startling,
aud ! felt positively shocked at my
own knowledge of the world, though |
had acquired 1t so gradually that 1t
had never disturbed me before. What
brought the difference more clearly to
my mind than anything was the idea
that suggested itself, If by any posi-.
bility ! should meet one of these girls
of other days, what should We find to
say to each other.
], perhaps, might understand her
in a far off way; could appreciate her
gentle womanliness, her more profound
religion, her unquestioned faith in those
older, and, as she would consequently
acknowledge, wiser than herself, being
fitted TO think for and direct her. All
this ] could comprehend, and perhaps
be slightly envious of, and yet she
would probably make me feel uncom-
Portable,
Doubtless ! should have the same
effect upon her. My independence
would startle her, most of my uncon.
scious remarks she would feel were
not right, according to the views she
had imbibed, and she would simply
not comprehend me if carclessly men.
toned the every day events of my life,
such as gay parties to the theatres, fol-
lowed by supper at Delmonico's, the
races with the attendant betting, recep.
tions and balls, so numerous that there
is no longer any desire to attend them,
and dinners, where the girls discuss all
questions OF the day, from the life of the
leading actress to the latest thing in
politics, with an ease and freedom not
10 be excellcd by their elders.
Had one of these girls been sud
denly taken from her period and made
to live. without preparation, one year
of the life of girl of ours, | think IL
would either have unsettled her reason
or killed her.
We girls of this day feel very proud
of our quick wit, our intelligence, our
general knowledge of the world and
our independence, but wonder IL our
progress in these four things has added
to our happiness In any way?
For my part believe that we have
gained on our ancestorsi In certain ways,
but that gain has lost us their peace of
mind and contentmcnt in moderation,
OF course it is an impossibility that
this generation should successfully imi-
tate a former one. Such vast mum.
her of circumstances have conspired to
make MS what We are that ii would be
folly even TO attempt to suggest radi.
cal change of existing facts, hut per,
haps if We could pause now AMI then
In the midst OF our excited, feyerish
lives TO cool our heated brains by re.
viewing the calm, methodical exist.
ence led by those muslin, hab!ted
maidens, and, in fancy, feel the soft
touch of their hands on our brOws,
leaving with us quiet, n peace per.
N tn
than we find time to acquire in the
hurry and rush, we should feel our.
selves none the worse for that touch,
/ do not say that the women of our
time arc not wOmanly; many are very
feminine; but from the fact that we
mix more freely with men than for.
merly and that our pleasures aud fol
lies are little too similar, we have oh.
tanned coating of hardness and glitter
that makes us appear as different from
the women of olden times as our modes
of lighting--candles and electric light
the former were softer.
Mems manner OF life has not So
perceptibly changed; they have always
had carto JidRcho, so they are neither
TO be blamed nor praised for their con
slancy in remaining the same. There
was very little more that they could
do or have. Thus It was not possible
for them TO progress, but what they
haze they are tenacious of keeping,
and think they begin to resent the in.
roads the feminine world has made in
later years on what they had always
regarded as their own preserves.
They bear 1t because they have to,
Int they do not like it, and IL we could
realize The truth, ] do not believe it is